Economic Importance of Tourism for Small Indian Ocean and Pacific Island States

Sathiendrakumar, R. and Tisdell, C.A. (1988) Economic Importance of Tourism for Small Indian Ocean and Pacific Island States. In: Tisdell, C.A., Aislabie , C.J. and Stanton, P.J., (eds.) Economics of Tourism: Case Studies and Analysis. Institute of Industrial Economics, University of Newcastle for Resource and Development Research Group, Newcastle, N.S.W, pp. 205-227.

Abstract

Tourism is now a significant industry for the economic development of the Maldives which like many island developing states in the Indian and Pacific Ocean has few resources and opportunities for development. This contribution outlines the impact which tourism has had on the economic development of the Maldives. It also compares and contrasts the economic importance of tourism in the Maldives with that of similar states in the Indo-Pacific Region, such as the Seychelles and Mauritius in the Indian Ocean and Fiji, Western Samoa, Vanuatu, Tonga and the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific Islands. Some differences in types of tourist development and in the pollution and environmental impact of tourism between these countries are noted.